Rod or reel what is more important?

[WRB]

The age old question is the Rod more important then the reel?

I tend to lean towards the Rod. However I tend to spend more money on reels. 

How can this be if the Rod is more important. 

I believe rod technology changes faster then reels. State of the art reels change slowly cost more and last longer then rods.

My 25 year old reels perform perfectly on today's newest state of the rods. The only noticeable difference is weight.

When I was selling my tackle rods are more difficult becuase of shipping cost,  reels are easy to ship.

Now we get down to brass tacks so to speak. I sold 20 of my custom and OTC rods to a giude, Lamiglas custom bait casting and Fenwick Tecna AV 90's era casting rods, state of the art at the time period. When the giude recieved the rods he was amazed of the quality and sensitivity of the rods. He said equal to his higher rods toady, 20 rods for the price of 1 of today's high end rods. 

My reels of that era still perform the same as they did 25 years ago and sold for 50- 75% of the original cost. 

The rod is more important but the reel retains more value.

Tom

[ATA]

For me Rod also more important, Always when I got new combo, the reason was needing new specific rod for spesific technique, But in other hand I always trying to get the best reel that match that combo as well. So far I am totaly agree with you, ive seen Shimano reel from 25 years ago and it was working and performing like so many high end reels today.  

[JustJames]

I cannot tell for sure what is more important in my mind. I do care more about reels than rods and also rather pay more money on the reels as well. On the opposite side I have more rods than reels, twice or even three time as many. Now on my rods and reels are a budget, middle end type, nothing too expensive less than 200 bucks.

I think I stop looking for new reels awhile ago (already have 2 set on my list, Vanford and 2020 metanium) but still searching for new rods, especially for crappie.

 

[Tatsu Dave]

For me its rod's.......they seem more important in the fishing puzzle for catching and landing big bass. 

[redmeansdistortion]

The $100 to $200 price point gets you an outstanding rod that will strike a nice medium between weight and sensitivity.  This is the category I typically shop and can't say I've been displeased with any of them.  While I haven't sought out rods above that price point, friends do have them and they are great pieces of gear, but for the most part I don't feel they're worth the sometimes exponentially higher cost.  

 

With reels, I tend to go a little overboard.  I'm a sucker for Japanese made Daiwa and Shimano reels and they can and do cost, but man are they smooth and refined feeling.  That's not to knock the Thai and Malaysian built products, there's some very good ones that I own, but they don't have the feel of something out of Japan.  Additionally, I often find myself shopping Japanese sites to buy reels that just aren't sold here in the states.  It pains me that we don't get products like the HRF, Morethan, and Alphas on our shores.

[Junk Fisherman]

Definitely the rod is more important and specifically for bottom contact presentations.

[Dens228]

I also feel rods are more important.  I can tell you that when fishing jigs on a less expensive rod I am sure I missed fish that I never knew I had.

[Teal]

Really with reels I can break them down into 2 or 3 speeds that are needed and just a couple sizes.. but rods to me are much more sspecific to me.  I think you can find really good reel in the 100 to 175 range... but I have spent more time on the rod..looking for specific powers and actions.  And I know that most of us can get by with just a couple of standard sizes, but like most of us have found that, we have found success in finding the right rod with right length, action or bend for the presentations, right amount of strength, the right tip, and sensitivity.  

 

I'd much rather put more into a string sensitive rod with the right type of action, and get by with a decent reel.

 

But you are right, I've always gotten better return on reels.  

[Jaderose]

Rods.  No question

[MickD]

Depends on the details of the question.  For casting, it is most important for the reel to be of high quality, with a high degree of functionality.  For spinning, at least for bass as opposed to redfish, the rod is most important.  Just about any $30 spinning reel will function well enough for quite a while.  This is not so for casting.  

[DomQ]

To me its the hat, yup the hat is the MOST important feature. Gotta look good guys or else why fish!?!? 

 

Kidding... its the rod

[jbmaine]

Don't forget the line! So so rods and reels will still do alright with good line. High end rods and reels will stink with bad line. I have rods and reels from different price points , but they all have really good line on them. This is one thing I won't skimp on.

[Bankbeater]

I have to say the rod. 

[kayaking_kev]

6 minutes ago, jbmaine said:

Don't forget the line! So so rods and reels will still do alright with good line. High end rods and reels will stink with bad line. I have rods and reels from different price points , but they all have really good line on them. This is one thing I won't skimp on.

I've lost fish with a $1100 combo and expensive line all because of bad hooks.

 

I've always been a proponent of rods being more important than reels though, my only combo where the reel cost more is a Fury/ SLX XT combo and it's not by much. 

[Randy Price]

I agree with others.  I say the rod is more important than the reel.  I primarily fish with spinning rods/reels.  The majority of my rods are St. Croix Legend Tournament and higher.  Last year (for traveling) I bought a AVID 68 MXF and a cheap Daiwa Fuego reel.  Now normally I'm a Shimano Stradic Ci4+ guy all day long but I didn't want to spend a lot of money on this set up.  I have to honestly say I've been very impressed with the Fuego and even how sensitive the Avid is compared to my higher end SC rods.  For the money (around $ 300.00) I think this is a great set up. 

[Bankc]

For me, it depends on the technique.  For bottom contact, then yes, the rod is most important, without a doubt.  But for cranks, topwater, spinnerbaits, etc., then the reel becomes more important to me.  By more important, I'm saying that I'll spend more money on it and am more careful with what I chose.  I find that if you're not needing the sensitivity to feel every bump and nibble, then you can usually get by just as well with a fairly cheap rod (provided it's still of descent quality).  You can buy a lot of usable rods for under $50.  It's a lot harder to get a usable reel in that price range. 

 

For example, my squarebill cranking rod is a Berkley Lighting.  The reel on it is a Diawa Tatula SV.  The Tatula is more important due to it allowing me to cast lighter lures further.  The rod just needs to have enough flex to keep pressure on the treble hooks.  They do that job as well as anything else I could have bought.  My topwater rod is a Daiwa Apollo from the 90's.  I like it because of the pistol grip, short rod length, and slow action.  Plus I've had it for 30 years.  No need to upgrade it because it does exactly what I need, leaving nothing wanting.  I use a Abu 5000D with it, which I would like to upgrade with something with better brakes, but I really enjoy the 3.8:1 ratio on it, which is really hard to find these days.  That combination allows me to pop poppers and walking baits and reel in one full handle rotation, and be set up with the perfect amount of slack left for the next pop.  So I'm always popping the rod when the reel's handle returns to the same location.  I can fish a walking bait or popper as fast or slow as I want, and not have to think about the mechanics of my technique, and still get the action I want.  

[Mike L]

It’s the whole setup as a tool. 
A Zebco 202 with cheep mono on a NRX will catch a fish as will Tatsu on a 2ft long Pocket Fisherman. 
 

But combine Tatsu to the NRX now you got something!

 

A bait casting reel is just a winch that you can buy loaded with all kinds of features to make casting and reeling easier to use with state of the art materials that will help it last a lifetime. 
 

But without a quality rod to attach it to, which transmits what the line feels, it won’t matter what reel you’re using. 
 

Give me a good rod with better line on a $50 reel and I’m a happy man. 

 

 

 

 

Mike 

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, Teal said:

Really with reels I can break them down into 2 or 3 speeds that are needed and just a couple sizes.. but rods to me are much more sspecific to me.  I think you can find really good reel in the 100 to 175 range... but I have spent more time on the rod..looking for specific powers and actions.  And I know that most of us can get by with just a couple of standard sizes, but like most of us have found that, we have found success in finding the right rod with right length, action or bend for the presentations, right amount of strength, the right tip, and sensitivity.  

 

I'd much rather put more into a string sensitive rod with the right type of action, and get by with a decent reel.

 

But you are right, I've always gotten better return on reels.  

Same here.  Being a kayak fisherman I usually bring 6 or 7 rods.  I have ten total rods, seven different types.  I have three different reels to go with those rods and the third one is only because it's a spinning reel otherwise I'd have two different types.  

[Junk Fisherman]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

Depends on the details of the question.  For casting, it is most important for the reel to be of high quality, with a high degree of functionality.  For spinning, at least for bass as opposed to redfish, the rod is most important.  Just about any $30 spinning reel will function well enough for quite a while.  This is not so for casting.  

I thought about this as well.  My spinning reels are interchangeable and my fishing would hardly miss a beat if I dropped down and used $30 spinning reels.  But this cannot be the same with baitcasters.  Definitely the quality of the baitcaster is more important than the quality of the spinning reel.  Granted, like Teal said once you get much past the $100 range (Tatula and higher) the rod becomes more important with baitcasters.  

[king fisher]

I prefer a nice rod over a nice reel, but spend about the same amount of money on reels.   Right now my favorite combo is a Tatula ct on a a Tatula rod both bought on sale for just under $100.  Fly fishing the rod wins no contest.

     The fishermen is the biggest factor.  I know a local kid that can out fish anyone on his home water.  All he has for equipment is an old soda bottle with mono wrapped around it.  Every time I see him I give him one of my lures.  Doesn't matter what lure I give him, he always catches fish with it.

[moguy1973]

I never thought the rod was that important until I got a nice one and started fishing bottom presentation baits.  Then the light came on and all was understood how important a good sensitive rod is.  Having a nice smooth reel is nice too, and having one that doesn't cast well isn't particularly good, but if it gets the bait out there and back then it's good enough.

[Tatsu Dave]

33 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Give me a good rod with better line on a $50 reel and I’m a happy man

I believe this best puts in words my feelings on the subject as well, I am however a spinning fisherman thru and thru so that comes into play.

[jimmyjoe]

     Look at it this way: take the best rod you can think of and put a cheap, junky spincast reel on it. Not a Zebco; I mean something really junky. And then take the best reel that you can think of and put it on a junky cane pole with taped guides. Which will let you cast furthest? Which will allow you to set the hook and which drag will allow you to fight the fish better? Which will be more versatile?

 

   IMO, reels are far, far more important to modern fishing than rods.

  

[r83srock]

Better return on reels, but I’d rather have a nice rod. Also agree on line as important as the rod.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I used to put more money in reels then rods. $150 for a rod and $200-250 for the reel.  Theres some good rods out there for $150 or less and a good reel makes it feel better.  Some are better then others for sure, but a reels is a mechanical device.  Mechanical devices all have 1 thing in common they will fail eventually, especially reels that are used in saltwater.  My work bench has 7s old reel I was looking at last night.  They work but they don't feel nearly as good as they did when they were new.  Rods on the other hand will work until they are broken.  One of the biggest advantages rods have over reels is a warranty.  The rods at the higher end of the price range can have a lifetime warranty, depending on who made the rod.  As far as bass fishing goes, the rod is a better investment the reel.  Don't get me wrong, Im not saying buy an NRX or a MB destroyer and put a kastking on it.